Illinois Notary Exam Questions and Answers 2024
What is a notary public? - ANSWERA public official authorized to attest to the
authenticity of signatures.
What are the four basic components of a notary public? - ANSWERlaw abiding,
bonded, impartial, public official.
What are a notary's key functions? - ANSWERTo acknowledge and witness the
signing of documents and administer oaths and affirmations related to the signing of
important documents.
How much of a bond do you have to have before receiving IN Notary Commission? -
ANSWER$25,000 surety bond
Can a notary notarize their own signature? - ANSWERNO; a notary cannot notarize
their own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the
notary.
What is the role of a notary? - ANSWERTo be an impartial witness to a signature,
oath or affidavit.
What is notarial act? - ANSWERServes as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking
or swearing to an affidavit.
Who is a notary public commissioned by? - ANSWERCommissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
How long is the term of office for a notary? - ANSWER8 years
What are examples of notarial acts? - ANSWER1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
How old do you have to be to become a notary? - ANSWER18 years of age
Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - ANSWERYou have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - ANSWEREvery 2
years
, What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - ANSWER$50
How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - ANSWERDraw a line
through the mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake
with your initial and date by it.
What must be included on notary seal? - ANSWER1. "notary public"
2. "state of Indiana"
3. "seal"
4. the name of the notary public exactly as it appears on the notary public's
commission certificate
5. commission number
6. "my commission expires"
What does jurisdiction mean? - ANSWERwith respect to the parties, subject matter
and place.
Where do IN notaries have the authority to attest/authenticate to affirmations? -
ANSWERIn the state of Indiana
What is a certified copy? - ANSWERa copy of a record that can only be issued by the
original issuing organization or agency or a specifically authorized agent of the
original issuer.
Can a notary create or certify copies of official records or documents? - ANSWERNo;
a notary public does not have authority to create or certify copies of official records
or documents.
What is a true copy? - ANSWERa copy of any document containing a notarized
affidavit or attestation of the person who made the copy that it is an accurate, "true"
and complete copy of the original.
Does the person signing the document have to be physically in your presence? -
ANSWERYes; the person signing the document must be physically in your presence
for the notarization to be valid.
What are the 3 possible ways for a notary to verify the identity of the signer? -
ANSWER1. identification documents, 2. personal knowledge, 3. credible witness
How long can ID be expired? - ANSWERMust be current and not expired more than 3
years.
What is a credible witness? - ANSWERThe notary personally knows someone who
swears that he or she personally knows the signer.
What is a notary public? - ANSWERA public official authorized to attest to the
authenticity of signatures.
What are the four basic components of a notary public? - ANSWERlaw abiding,
bonded, impartial, public official.
What are a notary's key functions? - ANSWERTo acknowledge and witness the
signing of documents and administer oaths and affirmations related to the signing of
important documents.
How much of a bond do you have to have before receiving IN Notary Commission? -
ANSWER$25,000 surety bond
Can a notary notarize their own signature? - ANSWERNO; a notary cannot notarize
their own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the
notary.
What is the role of a notary? - ANSWERTo be an impartial witness to a signature,
oath or affidavit.
What is notarial act? - ANSWERServes as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking
or swearing to an affidavit.
Who is a notary public commissioned by? - ANSWERCommissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
How long is the term of office for a notary? - ANSWER8 years
What are examples of notarial acts? - ANSWER1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
How old do you have to be to become a notary? - ANSWER18 years of age
Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - ANSWERYou have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - ANSWEREvery 2
years
, What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - ANSWER$50
How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - ANSWERDraw a line
through the mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake
with your initial and date by it.
What must be included on notary seal? - ANSWER1. "notary public"
2. "state of Indiana"
3. "seal"
4. the name of the notary public exactly as it appears on the notary public's
commission certificate
5. commission number
6. "my commission expires"
What does jurisdiction mean? - ANSWERwith respect to the parties, subject matter
and place.
Where do IN notaries have the authority to attest/authenticate to affirmations? -
ANSWERIn the state of Indiana
What is a certified copy? - ANSWERa copy of a record that can only be issued by the
original issuing organization or agency or a specifically authorized agent of the
original issuer.
Can a notary create or certify copies of official records or documents? - ANSWERNo;
a notary public does not have authority to create or certify copies of official records
or documents.
What is a true copy? - ANSWERa copy of any document containing a notarized
affidavit or attestation of the person who made the copy that it is an accurate, "true"
and complete copy of the original.
Does the person signing the document have to be physically in your presence? -
ANSWERYes; the person signing the document must be physically in your presence
for the notarization to be valid.
What are the 3 possible ways for a notary to verify the identity of the signer? -
ANSWER1. identification documents, 2. personal knowledge, 3. credible witness
How long can ID be expired? - ANSWERMust be current and not expired more than 3
years.
What is a credible witness? - ANSWERThe notary personally knows someone who
swears that he or she personally knows the signer.
